THE REPTILES OF AUSTRALIA - TURTLES

AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PHOTOS AND INFORMATION
Covering Australian Snakes and Lizards, Crocodiles and Turtles

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AUSTRALIAN TURTLES,TORTOISES AND SLIDERS
ORDER: Testudines

FRESHWATER TURTLES
Family:Cheluidae
* Indicates recent updates or new page

Common Name (Internal Links)	Scientific Name (External Links)	Distribution (Distribution key and map at bottom of page)
Cann's Long-necked Turtle	Chelodina canni (was C. novaeguineae canni and C. rankini) (Subgenus: Chelodina)	NT, Qld
Broad-Shelled River Turtle	Chelodina expansa (Subgenus: Chelydera)	NSW, Qld, SA, Vic
Sandstone Long-necked Turtle	Chelodina kurrichalpongo	NT, WA (distribution uncertain)
*Kutchling's Long-necked Turtle (see Northern Long-Necked Turtle )	Chelodina kutchlingi (Status Uncertain (synonymised) with Chelodina rugosa) (Subgenus: Chelydera)	WA
Eastern Snake-necked Turtle or Common Long-necked Tortoise	Chelodina longicollis (Subgenus: Chelodina)	NSW, ACT, Qld, SA, Vic (Tas - introduced)
*Oblong Turtle or Narrow-breasted Snake-necked Turtle	Chelodina oblonga (previously known as C. colliei* for a while) (Subgenus: Macrochelodina)	South-western WA
* Northern Long-necked Turtle	* Chelodina rugosa rugosa (previously called C. oblonga for a while) (Subgenus: Chelydera)	NT?, WA? (Excluding Torres Strait Islands) (Distribution to be confirmed)
* Snake-necked Turtle SUBSPECIES (status uncertain)	Chelodina rugosa intergularis (Subgenus: Chelydera*)	NT,Qld?,WA? (Distribution to be confirmed)
Siebenrock’s Snake-necked Turtle SUBSPECIES (status uncertain)	Chelodina rugosa siebenrocki (Subgenus: Chelydera*)	Papua New Guinea and the Torres Strait Islands Qld?, (Distribution to be confirmed)
Flat-shelled Turtle	Chelodina steindachneri (Subgenus: Chelodina)	WA
New Guinea Long-necked Turtle	Chelodina novaeguineae (Subgenus: Chelodina)	NT, Qld
Sandstone Long-necked Turtle	Chelodina walloyarrina (Subgenus: Chelydera)	NT, WA (distribution uncertain)
*Southern Snapping Turtle or White-throated Snapping Turtle	Elseya albagula	Qld
Northern Snapping Turtle	Elseya dentata (=jukesi)	NT, Qld, WA
Yellow-headed Snapping Turtle	Elseya irwini (=stirlingi)	Qld
*Gulf Snapping Turtle (Probably Extinct)	Elseya lavarackorum is only known from fossils - live specimens previously known by this name are now called Elseya oneiros	Gulf of Carpentaria NT, Qld
Mary River Turtle	Elusor macrurus	Qld
*Gulf Snapping Turtle	Elseya oneiros was previously known as Elseya lavarackorum which is only known from fossils	Gulf of Carpentaria NT, Qld
* Cooper Creek Turtle (Status Uncertain)	(Proposed new name Emydura emmotti) (Status Uncertain)	SA, Qld (Lake Eyre Basin)
*Hunter River Turtle (Status Uncertain)	Emydura macquarii* gunabarra* (Proposed new name Emydura gunabarra) (Status Uncertain)	NSW (Hunter River)
* Macquarie Turtle or Common Short-necked Turtle (Status Uncertain)	Emydura macquarii macquarii (Proposed new name Emydura macquarii) (Status Uncertain)	NSW, ACT, SA, Vic
* Krefft's River Turtle (Status Uncertain)	Emydura macquarii krefftii (Proposed new name Emydura krefftii krefftii) (Status Uncertain)	(Central coastal Qld)
* Brisbane Short-necked Turtle or Brisbane River Turtle (Status Uncertain)	Emydura macquarii signata (Proposed new name Emydura krefftii signata) (Status Uncertain)	Qld (SE Qld ), NE NSW?
* Krefft's River Turtle Unnamed Species (Status Uncertain)	Emydura macquarii krefftii (Proposed new name undecided Emydura krefftii sp) (Status Uncertain)	(NE Qld)
* Fraser Island Short-neck Turtle (Status Uncertain)	Emydura macquarii* nigra* (Proposed new name Emydura krefftii nigra) (Status Uncertain)	Qld (Fraser Island)
*Jardine River Short-necked Turtle	Emydura subglobosa angkibaanya	Cape York Peninsula, Qld
*Red-bellied Short-necked Turtle	Emydura subglobosa subglobosa	South Papua New Guinea
Worrell's Short-necked Turtle (or Diamond Head Turtle)	Emydura subglobosa worrelli	NT, Qld
Northern Yellow-faced Turtle	Emydura tanybaraga	NT, Qld
Northern Red-faced Turtle and North-West Red-faced Turtle	Emydura victoriae (includes turtles previously known as Emydura australis)	NT, WA
* Manning River Helmeted Turtle or Purvis' Turtle	Flaviemys (was Myuchelys, Wollumbinia & Elseya) purvisi	(Manning River area) NSW
Western Swamp Turtle	Pseudemydura umbrina	WA
Fitzroy River Turtle	Rheodytes leukops	Qld
*Namoi River Snapping Turtle or Bell's Turtle	Wollumbinia (was Myuchelys) bellii	NSW
* Bellinger River Snapping Turtle or Georges' Turtle	Wollumbinia (was Myuchelys) georgesi	NSW (Bellinger River)
*Saw-Shelled Turtle	Wollumbinia (was Myuchelys) latisternum (=dorsii)	NSW, NT, Qld

PIG NOSED TURTLES
Family:Carettochelydidae

Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution (Distribution key and map at bottom of page)
Pig Nosed or Pitted-Shelled Turtle	Carettochelys insculpta	NT, (New Guinea)

SEA TURTLES (Marine)
Family: Cheloniidae

Note that although Sea Turtles may stray into or spend time in cooler water, the females must return to warmer climates to lay their eggs.

Common Name

Scientific Name
(Subgenus in parentheses)

Distribution
(Distribution key and map at bottom of page)

Pacific Loggerhead Turtle

Caretta caretta gigas

(All States)

Pacific Green Turtle

Chelonia mydas japonica

(All States)

Hawksbill Turtle

Eretmochelys imbricata bissa

(NSW, NT, Qld, Tas, Vic)

Pacific (or Olive) Ridley Turtle

Lepidochelys olivacea

(NT, Qld, NSW, WA, Vic, SA)

Flatback Turtle

Natator depressus (was Chelonia depressa)

(NSW, NT, Qld, WA)

Leathery or Luth Turtle

Dermochelys coriacea

(All States)

HYBRIDS

Note that these hybrids occur in the wild

Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) × Pacific Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)

Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) × Kemp's Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)

Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) × Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)

Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) × Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas)

Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) × Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas)

Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) × Pacific Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)

LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE (Marine)
Family: Dermochelyidae

Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution (Distribution key and map at bottom of page)
Leathery or Luth Turtle	Dermochelys coriacea	(All States)

Sliders (INTRODUCED)
Family:Emydidae

Common Name

(Internal Links)

Scientific Name
(External Links)

Distribution

(Distribution key and map at bottom of page)

* Red-eared Slider - INTRODUCED

Trachemys scripta elegans

ACT?, NSW, Qld (From USA, introduced into many countries)

* Western Pond Turtle - INTRODUCED

Actinemys (was Clemmys) marmorata

NSW (Sydney Area) (From USA)

Pond & River Turtles (INTRODUCED)
Family:Geoemydidae

Common Name
(Internal Links)

Scientific Name
(Subgenus in parentheses) (External Links)

Distribution
(Distribution key and map at bottom of page)

Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle - INTRODUCED - protected by the CITES and IUCN

Mauremys sinensis*

Toowoomba area Qld (native to South East Asia) - (this species may not be breeding in the wild in Australia)

DISTRIBUTION KEY

Click on the abbreviation below to see a map of the area

CI = Christmas Island	CKI = Cocos (Keeling) Island	NSW = New South Wales
NT = Northern Territory	Qld = Queensland	SA = South Australia
Tas = Tasmania	Vic = Victoria	WA = Western Australia
NI = Norfolk Island	LHI = Lord Howe Island	ACT = Australian Capital Territory (Canberra region only - excludes Jervis Bay Territory)

Australia map

LINKS OF INTEREST

Click here for more Information about Australian Turtles and Tortoises

TURTLES, TORTOISES AND CROCODILES
FROM AROUND THE WORLD
John Fowler

Red-eared Slider - INVASIVE SPECIES
John Fowler

TurtleSAT

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Common Name	Scientific Name (Subgenus in parentheses)	Distribution (Distribution key and map at bottom of page)
Pacific Loggerhead Turtle	Caretta caretta gigas	(All States)
Pacific Green Turtle	Chelonia mydas japonica	(All States)
Hawksbill Turtle	Eretmochelys imbricata bissa	(NSW, NT, Qld, Tas, Vic)
Pacific (or Olive) Ridley Turtle	Lepidochelys olivacea	(NT, Qld, NSW, WA, Vic, SA)
Flatback Turtle	Natator depressus (was Chelonia depressa)	(NSW, NT, Qld, WA)
Leathery or Luth Turtle	Dermochelys coriacea	(All States)

Common Name (Internal Links)	Scientific Name (Subgenus in parentheses) (External Links)	Distribution (Distribution key and map at bottom of page)
*Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle - INTRODUCED - protected by the CITES and IUCN	Mauremys sinensis	Toowoomba area Qld (native to South East Asia) - (this species may not be breeding in the wild in Australia)

AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PHOTOS AND INFORMATION Covering Australian Snakes and Lizards, Crocodiles and Turtles

PLEASE SHARE THIS PAGE

AUSTRALIAN TURTLES,TORTOISES AND SLIDERS ORDER: Testudines

FRESHWATER TURTLES Family:Cheluidae * Indicates recent updates or new page

Common Name

(Internal Links)

Scientific Name (External Links)

Distribution

Chelodina canni (was C. novaeguineae canni and C. rankini) (Subgenus: Chelodina)

NT, Qld

Chelodina expansa (Subgenus: Chelydera)

NSW, Qld, SA, Vic

Chelodina kurrichalpongo

NT, WA (distribution uncertain)

*Kutchling's Long-necked Turtle (see Northern Long-Necked Turtle )

Chelodina kutchlingi (Status Uncertain (synonymised) with Chelodina rugosa) (Subgenus: Chelydera)

WA

Chelodina longicollis (Subgenus: Chelodina)

NSW, ACT, Qld, SA, Vic (Tas - introduced)

*Chelodina oblonga (previously known as C. colliei for a while) (Subgenus: Macrochelodina)

South-western WA

* Northern Long-necked Turtle

* Chelodina rugosa rugosa (previously called C. oblonga for a while) (Subgenus: Chelydera)

NT?, WA? (Excluding Torres Strait Islands) (Distribution to be confirmed)

* Snake-necked Turtle SUBSPECIES (status uncertain)

*Chelodina rugosa intergularis (Subgenus: Chelydera)

NT,Qld?,WA? (Distribution to be confirmed)

Siebenrock’s Snake-necked Turtle SUBSPECIES (status uncertain)

*Chelodina rugosa siebenrocki (Subgenus: Chelydera)

Papua New Guinea and the Torres Strait Islands Qld?, (Distribution to be confirmed)

Chelodina steindachneri (Subgenus: Chelodina)

WA

New Guinea Long-necked Turtle

NT, Qld

Chelodina walloyarrina (Subgenus: Chelydera)

NT, WA (distribution uncertain)

*Southern Snapping Turtle or White-throated Snapping Turtle

Elseya albagula

Qld

Elseya dentata (=jukesi)

NT, Qld, WA

Yellow-headed Snapping Turtle

Qld

*Gulf Snapping Turtle (Probably Extinct)

Elseya lavarackorum is only known from fossils - live specimens previously known by this name are now called Elseya oneiros

Gulf of Carpentaria NT, Qld

Elusor macrurus

Qld

*Gulf Snapping Turtle

Elseya oneiros was previously known as Elseya lavarackorum which is only known from fossils

Gulf of Carpentaria NT, Qld

* Cooper Creek Turtle (Status Uncertain)

(Proposed new name Emydura emmotti) (Status Uncertain)

SA, Qld (Lake Eyre Basin)

*Hunter River Turtle (Status Uncertain)

Emydura macquarii gunabarra (Proposed new name Emydura gunabarra) (Status Uncertain)

NSW (Hunter River)

* Macquarie Turtle or Common Short-necked Turtle (Status Uncertain)

Emydura macquarii macquarii (Proposed new name Emydura macquarii) (Status Uncertain)

NSW, ACT, SA, Vic

* Krefft's River Turtle (Status Uncertain)

Emydura macquarii krefftii (Proposed new name Emydura krefftii krefftii) (Status Uncertain)

(Central coastal Qld)

* Brisbane Short-necked Turtle or Brisbane River Turtle (Status Uncertain)

Emydura macquarii signata (Proposed new name Emydura krefftii signata) (Status Uncertain)

Qld (SE Qld ), NE NSW?

* Krefft's River Turtle Unnamed Species (Status Uncertain)

Emydura macquarii krefftii (Proposed new name undecided Emydura krefftii sp) (Status Uncertain)

(NE Qld)

* Fraser Island Short-neck Turtle (Status Uncertain)

Emydura macquarii nigra (Proposed new name Emydura krefftii nigra) (Status Uncertain)

Qld (Fraser Island)

Emydura subglobosa angkibaanya

Cape York Peninsula, Qld

Emydura subglobosa subglobosa

South Papua New Guinea

Worrell's Short-necked Turtle (or Diamond Head Turtle)

Emydura subglobosa worrelli

NT, Qld

Northern Yellow-faced Turtle

AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PHOTOS AND INFORMATION
Covering Australian Snakes and Lizards, Crocodiles and Turtles

AUSTRALIAN TURTLES,TORTOISES AND SLIDERS
ORDER: Testudines

FRESHWATER TURTLES
Family:Cheluidae
* Indicates recent updates or new page

Scientific Name
(External Links)

Chelodina canni (was C. novaeguineae canni and C. rankini)
(Subgenus: Chelodina)

Chelodina expansa
(Subgenus: Chelydera)

*Kutchling's Long-necked Turtle
(see Northern Long-Necked Turtle )

Chelodina kutchlingi (Status Uncertain (synonymised) with Chelodina rugosa)
(Subgenus: Chelydera)

Chelodina longicollis
(Subgenus: Chelodina)

NSW, ACT, Qld, SA, Vic
(Tas - introduced)

Chelodina oblonga (previously known as C. colliei* for a while)
(Subgenus: Macrochelodina)

* Chelodina rugosa rugosa (previously called C. oblonga for a while)
(Subgenus: Chelydera)

NT?, WA?
(Excluding Torres Strait Islands)
(Distribution to be confirmed)

* Snake-necked Turtle
SUBSPECIES
(status uncertain)

Chelodina rugosa intergularis
(Subgenus: Chelydera*)

Siebenrock’s Snake-necked Turtle SUBSPECIES
(status uncertain)

Chelodina rugosa siebenrocki
(Subgenus: Chelydera*)

Chelodina steindachneri
(Subgenus: Chelodina)

Chelodina walloyarrina
(Subgenus: Chelydera)

* Cooper Creek Turtle
(Status Uncertain)

*Hunter River Turtle
(Status Uncertain)

Emydura macquarii* gunabarra*
(Proposed new name Emydura gunabarra) (Status Uncertain)

* Macquarie Turtle or Common Short-necked Turtle
(Status Uncertain)

* Krefft's River Turtle
(Status Uncertain)

Emydura macquarii krefftii
(Proposed new name Emydura krefftii krefftii) (Status Uncertain)

* Brisbane Short-necked Turtle or Brisbane River Turtle
(Status Uncertain)

Emydura macquarii signata
(Proposed new name Emydura krefftii signata) (Status Uncertain)

* Krefft's River Turtle
Unnamed Species
(Status Uncertain)

Emydura macquarii krefftii
(Proposed new name undecided Emydura krefftii sp) (Status Uncertain)

* Fraser Island Short-neck Turtle
(Status Uncertain)

Emydura macquarii* nigra*
(Proposed new name Emydura krefftii nigra) (Status Uncertain)

Wollumbinia (was Myuchelys)
latisternum (=dorsii)

Distribution
(Distribution key and map at bottom of page)

SEA TURTLES (Marine)
Family: Cheloniidae

Note that although Sea Turtles may stray into or spend time in cooler water, the females must return to warmer climates to lay their eggs.

Scientific Name
(Subgenus in parentheses)

Distribution
(Distribution key and map at bottom of page)